Hep C

[Tonyami]

My fiance just informed me that he was diagnosed with Hep C Approximatly 8-10 years ago, apparently he was in denial about the diagnosis as he is Asymptomatic, so therefore he had no treatment for this, what are his risks for not having any treatment for this and will he need to be treated right away or should he wait until he becomes symptomatic?

[BoceprevirGal]

  My symptoms seemed to appear exactly 20 after my exposure, which is what I was told may happen.
  My liver enzymes (called AST & ALT tests) were
always elevated, about twice as high as normal, but after 20 yrs, they changed, to 10 times higher, and at the same time, I had other blood work change, like my platelets dropped below normal.
  It is a good idea to have labs done every 6 months, to check for any out of range labs, and then question the abnormalities.
  

[James10500]

he doesn'yt have any symptoms because HCV is asymptomatic.  Thats why they call it the silent killer. The virus is doing damage to his liver

[Advocate1955]

As others have said, whether or not he should begin treatment after his health insurance begins, depends on many factors, primarily his stage of liver damage.  If he was diagnosed 10 years ago and has not followed up to find out the state of his liver's health, then that will be the most critical piece of information.  Liver damage is a slowly progressing disease, so hopefully time has been on his side.  My suggestion would be for him to make an appointment to see a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist as soon as possible after his health insurance benefits start again.  This doctor will start over again, testing to see what his "viral load" is, what his genotype is, updating any vaccines he may need, checking to see if he has HIV, probably doing an ultrasound or a CT scan of his liver, and possibly doing a liver biopsy (relatively easy and painless) to check on all of these things.  A person with Hep C does not want to get Hep A, Hep B, or HIV along with Hep C, as these conditions cause further burden on the liver.  It is important for him to know the stage of his liver disease and the genotype of his Hep C virus so that he and his doctor can decide what treatment options to consider.
When my husband was diagnosed with Hep C, my kids and I were all tested to make sure we didn't have it.  As others have said above, the risk of getting Hep C is low within typical family activities, but our doctors wanted to test us to make sure.  I would recommend that you be tested to make sure you don't have it.
Ways to prevent transmission of Hep C:  do not share toothbrushes, razors, fingernail/toenail clippers, etc.  Use disposible gloves and universal precautions whenever you are handling items with blood, such as bandaids, first aid supplies, sharps (needles, injectables), etc.  
Advocate1955

[orphanedhawk]

I had very few symptoms until my liver was severely damaged.
In fact I thought I was healthy.
What is important is the condition of his liver. Once he knows that, he can decide how to proceed. You should be tested although many of us have had this for years without knowing and our spouses and children do not have the virus.

[Dannyboi7]

Many free clinics will give you the tests for free no questions asked.

[crossroadsec]

How great that he has had no symptoms! It does have a way of coming to an acute phase quickly. I think some of my symptoms from 10 years ago pointed to advancing disease and I attributed it to other things. We all agree that treating before it gets too far is wise. It's much easier to go through treatment before cirrhosis sets in.
You might try your local health center to get yourself tested if insurance doesn't cover it. Chances are slim that you have it.
Good luck going forward!
Karen:)

[copyman]

Waiting a few months will not matter. Some tests are very expensive not to mention doctors & treatment meds ($30,000 to 40,000 average)

You should get tested even as a baseline.
Although not easily spread via sex it is possible. Better chance of transmission with sharing razor blades and toothbrushes.

best of luck

[Tonyami]

Thank you, that is very helpful. I should add that he needs to wait until January when his medical benifits kick in, so I was concerned that any test or treatments will not be done for a few more months.
Also, should I be tested for Hep C?
Thank you again

[willbb]

Let me try that post again.......

Hi ..

I would take it to understand that your fiance has been diagnosed with chronic HCV and not just been tested at one time possitive for the initial "antibodies test.

If so..then he should be seen by a specialist (either a gastroenterologist or a Hepatologist)  to do all the appropriate testing ( ie. blood tests ,possibly ultrasound and possibly a biopsy and /or a fibroscan (if avail)

For the most part HCV is a very slowly moving disease and usually takes many years and most often decades to do any significant damage (fibrosis) to the liver.
Also most often there are "no" or none specific symptoms to HCV until the liver is not able to function in the normal manner (chirrosis ,especially once it has become de-compensated)

The treatments today are approx. 70 -80 % succesful and usually run a course of 24 weeks or sometimes even up to 48 weeks(depending on may factors.

One of the tests the specialist with do is a geno typyng to ascertain what type he has (In N.A the majority of patients have geno type 1)  and depending on this typing the drugs used will vary from a combo to a triple drug therap.
.

My advice would be to see this specialist sooner rather than later ,as I said often once there are symptoms the disease  may be quite far advanced

Good luck and welcome...

Will

[willbb]

trople drug therap.
-------sorry .
.meant "triple drug therapy
.

[willbb]

Hi ..

I would take it to understand that your fiance has been diagnosed with chronic HCV and not just been tested at one time possitive for the initial "antibodies test.

If so..then he should be seen by a specialist (either a gastroenterologist or a Hepatologist)  to do all the appropriate testing ( ie. blood tests ,possibly ultrasound and possibly a biopsy and /or a fibroscan (if avail)

For the most part HCV is a very slowly moving disease and usually takes many years and most often decades to do any significant damage (fibrosis) to the liver.

My advice would be to see this specialist sooner rather than later ,as I said often once there are symptoms the disease  may be quite far advanced

Good luck and welcome...

Will

Also most often there are "no" or none specific symptoms to HCV until the liver is not able to function in the noraml mattere (chirrosis ,especially once it has become de-compensated)

The treatments today are approx. 70 -80 % succesful and usually run a course of 24 weeks or sometimes even up to 48 weeks(depending on may factors.

One of the tests the specialist with do is a geno typyng to ascertain what type he has (In N.A the majotirt of patients have geno type 1)  anddepending on this typing the drugs used willvary from a combo to a trople drug therap.

[coeric]

the problems with waiting to be symptomatic is that many folks with advanced cirrhosis do not have any symptoms.   there are folks on this board that did not know they had hcv until after they ruptured an esophageal varice and ended up in the ER vomiting blood.  i would advise anyone with hcv to get a workup by a gastroenterologist who has experience treating this disease or better yet a hepatologist.  personally i would not treat with the currently available drugs if the amount of scaring in the liver was minimal (stage 1 or 2).  i recently treated because i was experiencing cirrhosis (stage 4).
eric